Tony Winner Bebe Neuwirth Will Return to Broadway's Chicago in Third Role

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17 Dec 2013

Bebe Neuwirth

Two-time Tony and Emmy Award winner Bebe Neuwirth, who won a 1997 Tony Award for her acclaimed portrayal of jazz-age killer Velma Kelly in the hit revival of Chicago and returned ten years later as merry murderess Roxie Hart, will now step into the role of Matron "Mama" Morton for an eight-week limited engagement.

Neuwirth will return to the John Kander and Fred Ebb musical Jan. 14, 2014, and will continue through March 9 at the Ambassador Theatre.

"Simply put, Bebe Neuwirth is Chicago," said producer Barry Weissler in a statement. "When the revival opened 17 years ago, Bebe was honored with a Tony Award, an Astaire Award, a Drama Desk Award, an Outer Critics Circle Award and the Drama League Award for her unequalled performance as Velma Kelly. Hers was the performance of the season, and it made an indelible and lasting mark in the history of Broadway theatre. Ten years later, she rejoined the company to star as Roxie Hart, and the results were equally spectacular. And this January she's back again, now as Matron 'Mama' Morton, making her the first leading lady in Broadway history to play all three principal roles. I'll say it again: Bebe Neuwirth is Chicago."

The revival of Chicago began life as one of the three annual Encores! presentations offered by City Center. The musical opened on Broadway at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in November 1996 where it remained through February 1997. The musical transferred to the Shubert Theatre on Feb. 11, 1997, and played that house through Jan. 26, 2003. The revival reopened at the Ambassador Theatre, its current home, on Jan. 29, 2003. Read more about the revival in the Playbill Vault.

Chicago won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical in 1997 as well as awards for actors Bebe Neuwirth and James Naughton, director Walter Bobbie, lighting designer Ken Billington and choreographer Ann Reinking. The original production was directed and choreographed by the late Bob Fosse. The modern classic has music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb and book by Ebb and Fosse.